Method and apparatus for providing accessible containers for high altitude or space use



Sep t. 10, 1961:

J. S. KIRKPATRICK ETAL ETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ACCESSIBLECONTAINERS FOR HIGH ALTITUDE OR SPACE USE Filed Aug. 21, 1961 24 I6 2226 Y k/ m T; 26 l8 l4 INVENTORS MM Wf 94% TTORNEYS United StatesPatent*() This invention relates toa portable lightweightatmospherically sealed container for use at high altitude or in space.The container is adapted to house delicate electronic equipment. Theinvention ischaracterized by the manner in which the container is sealedfrom the atmosphere by a sealing band and by the way in which thesealing band is removed from the container without injury to thecontents of the container. v V

It is an object of the present invention to provide a portablelightweight atmospherically sealed container adapted for use at highaltitude or in space comprising edges which are free directly opposite,and a relatively narrow band abut-ting the sections and bridging thespace between the aforesaid edges, said band extending completely aroundthe outside periphery of said sections to close the interior thereof tothe atmosphere and having its peripheral edges throughout their entirelength soldered to the sections.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portablelightweight atmospherically sealed container of the type just describedwherein the band is provided a pair of hollow sections arranged to havetheir peripheral with a tab which is adapted to be connected to a keyfor facilitating removal of the band from the sections without injury tothe contents of the container.

Still. another object of the present invention is to provide a portablelightweight atmospherically sealed container of the type just describedwherein the sections are made of a metal plate-d with tin and said bandis made from copper.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a container ofthe type described wherein a collar is secured to the inner periphery ofone of the sections and extends beyond the free peripheral edge thereofinto engagement with the inner periphery of the other of said sections,and threaded fasteners connect the free pcripheral edge of the othersection with the collar.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a portablelightweight atmospherically sealed contamer which Is economical tomanufacture, efficient in operation, easy to maintain, and which isreuseable.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, illustrating preferred embodiments of theinvention, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the present inven tion.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view, similar to FIGURE 2, showing amodification of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing, the novel container is designated by thenumeral 10 and is composed of two hollow sections 12 and 14. Thesections are assembled so as to provide a hollow interior which isadapted to house delicate electronic equipment.

The rectangularly shaped sections 12 and 14- are generally made frommagnesium plated with tin, nickel or any other material which can besoldered.

After the electronic equipment has been carefully placed in the interiorof the sections 12 and 14, the sections are moved together so that theperipheral edges 16 and 18 Patented Sept. 10, 1963 ce T which are freeare directly opposite with a small space 20 provided therebetween. Arelatively thin tear. strip or band 22 is wrapped around the outerperiphery of the sections 12 and 14 in abutting relation therewith as isshown in FIGURE 1. The laterally spaced longitudinal edges 24 and 26 ofthe band 22 are soldered to the sections throughout their entire lengthso as to completely enclose the interior of the container 10.

The band 22 isgenerally made from copper and is provided with a tab 28to which a key 30 is adapted to be connected. Referring to FIGURE 1, itshould be observed that the key 30 has an elongated stem 32 which has aslot 34 on one end which is adapted to receive the tab 28. The tab 28 islocked on the slotted end of the key 30. The key 30 is rotated so as tobreak the soldered connection between the band 22 and sections 12, 14

and simultaneously roll the band 22 around the slotted end of the key 30as illustrated.

After the container has performed its function, the delicate electronicequipment is removed from the container lit Later, the sections 12 and14 are cleaned so as to remove the solder to provide smooth surfaces onthe outer periphery of the sections. Later, the electronic equipment isre-inserte-d into the container 10 and another tear, strip or band 22 isplaced around the outer periphery of the sections 12 and 14, asexplained previously, so as to close the interior of the container 10 tothe atmosphere.

In the modification illustrated in FIGURE 3, the sections 12 and 14 areprovided with a reotangularly shaped collar 4%, a part of which isshown. The collar 40' is permanently secured to the inner periphery ofthe section 12, as an example, by welding or the like and is arranged toextend outwardly beyond the free peripheral edge of the section 12 so asto engage the inner periphery of the section 14.

A plurality of judiciously spaced removable threaded fasteners 42connect the peripheral edge of the section 14 to the collar 40. The head44 of the fastener 42 is flush with the outer periphery of the sections12 and i4. After the sections 12 and 14 have been assembled in themanner illustrated, the relatively thin band 22 is Wrapped around theouter periphery of the sections throughout their entire length as wasdescribed for the other embodiment.

After the container has performed its function, the band 22 is removedwith the key 3% as previously described. The threaded fasteners 42 arethen removed so as to permit the removal of the delicate electronicequipment. The sections are cleaned so as to remove the solder, afterwhich time the container may be reused.

While the hollow sections 12 and 14- are described and illustrated ashaving a rectangularly shaped cross section, it should be understoodthat other hollow shaped sections, such as cylindrical, may be used.

The drawing and the foregoing specification constitute a description ofthe improved method and apparatus for providing accessible containersfor high altitude or space use in such full, clear, concise and exactterms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice theinvention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. A portable lightweight atmospherically sealed container for use athigh altitude or in space comprising a pair of axiallyaligned hollowsections arranged to have their peripheral edges which are free directlyopposite with a slight substantially uniform space therebetween,

a relatively narrow collar in surface-to-sur-face engage- 3 ment withand secured to the inner periphery of one of said sections, said collarincluding a portion extending outwardly from the tree peripheral edgethereof into the other of said sections, the outer periphery of saidcollar portion being in surface-to-surface engagement with the innerperiphery of said other section, a plurality of removable threadedfasteners which are spaced apart connecting the free peripheral edge ofsaid other section to said collar to maintain the aforesaid spacedrelationship between said sections, the trailing ends of said threadedfasteners being substantially flush with the outer periphery of saidother section, and a relatively narrow removable tear strip abutting theouter periphery of said sections and bridging the space between theaforesaid edges, said strip extending completely around the outerperiphery of said sections and having its peripheral edges soldered tosaid sections throughout their entire length to close the interior ofsaid sections to the atmosphere, said strip also bridging the aforesaidthreaded fasteners for preventing said fasteners from unthreading -whilesaid strip remains in place.

2. A portable lightweight atmospherically sealed container defined inclaim 1 wherein said collar is secured to said one section by welding.

3. A portable lightweight atmospherically sealed container defined inclaim 1 wherein said hollow sections are of substantially equal size andof rectangular cross section.

4. A portable lightweight atrnospherically sealed container defined inclaim 1 wherein a tab is provided on said tear strip which is adapted tobe connected to a key for facilitating the removal of said strip fromsaid sections without injury to the contents of the container.

5. A portable lightweight atmospherically sealed container defined inclaim 1 wherein said sections are plated with tin and said tear strip ismade from copper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS424,982 Hidden Apr. 8, 1890 548,465 Schaake Oct. 22, 1895 922,435 LeeMay 18, 1909 1,311,541 Tomlinson et a1. July 29, 1919 1,664,181 OwenMar. 27, 1928 1,995,616 Kamack Mar. 26, 1935 2,635,785 Gross Apr. 21,1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 8,316 Australia July 14, 1927

1. A PORTABLE LIGHTWEIGHT ATMOSPHERICALLY SEALED CONTAINER FOR USE ATHIGH ALTITUDE OR IN SPACE COMPRISING A PAIR OF AXIALLY ALIGNED HOLLOWSECTIONS ARRANGED TO HAVE THEIR PERIPHERAL EDGES WHICH ARE FREE DIRECTLYOPPOSITE WITH A SLIGHT SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM SPACE THEREBETWEEN, ARELATIVELY NARROW COLLAR IN SURFACE-TO-SURFACE ENGAGEMENT WITH ANDSECURED TO THE INNER PERIPHERY OF ONE OF SAID SECTIONS, SAID COLLARINCLUDING A PORTION EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE FREE PERIPHERAL EDGETHEREOF INTO THE OTHER OF SAID SECTIONS, THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF SAIDCOLLAR PORTION BEING IN SURFACE-TO-SURFACE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNERPERIPHERY OF SAID OTHER SECTION, A PLURALITY OF REMOVABLE THREADEDFASTENERS WHICH ARE SPACED APART CONNECTING THE FREE PERIPHERAL EDGE OFSAID OTHER SECTION TO